Skip to content

Largest Review/Discussion Fansite for Supernatural and SPNFamily Shows! Plot/Character Analysis, Spoilers, Games, News, Gallery, Interviews, Fun!
  • Home
  • Featured ArticlesExpand
    • Featured Articles
    • WFB Archives
  • NewsExpand
    • Supernatural Whenever World News
  • SupernaturalExpand
    • Supernatural Episode Guides
    • SPN Ratings for All Episodes
  • Extended FamilyExpand
    • Walker
    • The Winchesters
    • Walker: Independence
    • The Boys
    • Big Sky
  • FandomExpand
    • Latest Comments
    • WFB Games
    • Photo Galleries
    • CBOX Chat Room
    • Old Discussion Page
  • About UsExpand
    • WFB Writers
    • Contact Us

Top Ten Articles

Alice and Nate’s Take On…The Ten Worst Episodes of “Supernatural,” #6-10

ByAlice Jester September 18, 2018December 23, 2024

 
Alice’s Choices
 
My criteria for picking bad episodes is a mixture of a couple of things.  One, is it one of the more critically panned episodes?  Something so bad, that even when it’s good it’s still really bad?  Two, was I extraordinarily pissed after watching, cursing to the high heavens that yet another of my very precious hours was ruined by a spectacular lack of foresight by the creative team?  Many episdoes actually hit that list, so then I pared it down to, “Which ones were bad on an extraordinarily epic scale?”  Now we have winners, or should I say losers!  
 
10 – “Bugs” (1.08)
 
bugflamethrower
 
I know, it’s season one, right when “Supernatural” was still trying to find it’s footing, but how can this not make the “worst” list?  It’s legendary in it’s badness.  So many things were not done again after “Bugs” was done.  For one, Sam and Dean were banned from using umbrellas again.  Bad and tacky special effects weren’t used again as a substitute for a climactic battle until the season closer in season 13.  We certainly haven’t had a monologuing Native American since then.  At least the showdown with the bees in the attic that was supposed to take all evening but only lasted a few minutes led to many great behind the scenes stories.  It was an idea that writer Eric Kripke was warned couldn’t be done, and dammit his producers were right.  But when this horrific family ordeal, ending with a very shaken family, closed out with the brothers cruising off in the Impala to the hard rocking tune of “There’s No One Like You” by the Scorpions, you knew at that point the post production team had given up. 
 
9 – “Route 666” (1.11)
 
RacistTruck
 
I get it again, season one was an uneven season, but a RACIST TRUCK?  Seriously?  It’s interesting that Brad Buckner and Eugenie Ross Leming have continued to deliver scripts since then that have been very tone deaf with racist and misogynistic plots.  It’s really a shame to see this was only the beginning.  Check out bad the dialogue and hammy acting in this one though.  Easily one of the series worst in those categories.  This only ranks low on this list because season 1 gets a rookie pass.   
 
8 – “Mannequin 3: The Reckoning” (6.14)
 
 
I usually hate poorly done, ill-conceived, absolutely stupid monster of the week episodes when they immediately follow something far better that ended with an exciting mini cliffie.  Case in point, “Mannequin 3: The Reckoning.”  It was the episode to follow that explosive ending of the brilliant “Unforgiven,” in which Sam is left seizing on the floor after being flooded by traumatic memories of his torture in Hell.  After freaking about about poor Sam for a week, horrified by the instability in his head, it was all brushed under the rug in 1 minute so we could endure 42 more minutes of a super-bad killer doll story.  Talk about a massive letdown.  This was a disappointment that was repeated again in season seven”s “The Girl Next Door” after Sam’s heartbreaking meltdown and the brothers both being rushed to the hospital in dire straits in “Hello Cruel World,” and season eleven’s “All in the Family” after the dramatic and fan thrilling ending of “Don’t Call Me Shurley” (They STILL haven’t acknowledged the amulet?). 
 
It’s all a glaring reminder that when lazy writing happens, huge and memorable opportunities are lost and the resentment truly never ends comes re-watch time.  But of all these examples, “Mannequin 3:  The Reckoning” was the one in the poorest of taste.  I just don’t know what they were thinking when breaking this one.  
 
7 – “There’s Something About Mary” (12.21)
 
TSAM14
 
This could have easily been, “The British Invasion” as well.  Both were equally asinine in their plotting, had ill conceived ideas that came out of nowhere (the evil headmaster?) instead of being developed organically, and plotting, dialogue, and editing were just plain awful.  The fact that a Harry Potter ripoff where the students have to kill each other from “The British Invasion” didn’t make the list just shows how bad “There’s Something About Mary” is.  That’s because yet another strong female character, Eileen, is killed for no good reason other than to get a cheap emotional reaction from Sam, which was mild at best.  By season 12, killing good characters for no good reason had turned into lazy desperate writing falling back on the same tired trope. In other words, it had gotten really annoying.  It was enough to trigger #firebuckleming outrage on Twitter and rightfully so. 
 
I think history has proven that the whole British Men of Letters story was an utter pile of junk and a total waste of time in season 12, easily rendering that season one of the worst of the series.  This episode was the BMOL at their dastardly peak, even though it was never clearly explained why they were that way and what their true mission was.  They were not believable villains and this mind programming on Mary Winchester so she could kill all the American hunters, including her OWN SONS, made no sense whatsoever.  The showdown in the bunker was a pile of junk, but at least it did lead to something promising in the next episode.  Add onto this the whole weak Lucifer and Crowley scene killing pissing contest in the fake Hell lair that had already dragged on for episodes and I just wanted that hour of my life back so badly.  Actually, three hours, since I spent two hours on Twitter afterward bitching up a storm about this episode. 
 
6 – “Man’s Best Friend With Benefits” (8.15)
 
VR4
 
Not in the history of “Supernatural” has a more tone deaf episode aired.  Not even “Route 666” although it might be not coincidence that both episodes were written but the same writers.  A black woman is a familiar to a white male witch.  That woman splits her time between her human form and animal form, a dog.  This of course requires her to wear a dog collar.  Oh, and she’s his lover.  So basically we’ve got a black woman acting as a sex toy to a white man while wearing a dog collar and calling him “master”.  If that sounds offensive, just watch the rest of the plot.  It totally butchered all existing lore on witchcraft, forgot completely the strides the brothers made toward healing their rift in episodes prior, was boring and sluggish as hell and the dialogue was perplexing at best.  Even the usually strong VFX was B-movie quality.  Considering that the episodes previously introduced the most exciting Men of Letters legacy and the MOL bunker, this was just a complete letdown to anyone who thought they might actually keep running with that.  It was like it never happened. 
 
Coming soon, episodes 1-5!  Agree with the choices so far?  
facebookShare on Facebook
TwitterTweet
FollowFollow us
PinterestSave
Alice Jester

Alice Jester is the founder, editor-in-chief, head writer, programmer, web designer, site administrator, marketer, and moderator for The Winchester Family Business.  She is a 30 year IT applications and database expert with a penchant for creative and freelance writing in her spare (ha!!) time.  That’s on top of being a wife, mother of two active kids, and four loving (aka needy) pets.

Pages: 1 2
Post Tags: #Top Ten

Post navigation

Previous Previous
Fan Video of the Week: Supernatural Reflections 13.14 “Good Intentions”
NextContinue
Alice and Nate’s Take On…The Ten Worst Episodes of “Supernatural,” #1-5

Similar Posts

  • Top Ten Articles

    The WFB Admins’ Top 15 “Supernatural” Episodes List: #9

    ByArdeospina January 9, 2013

    Ardeospina’s #9: “Hunteri Heroici” Why: I know what you’re thinking; another season 8 choice from Ardeospina?  Yes!  Yes indeed!  I honestly don’t care that it was a recent episode.  I loved it!  It was a fantastic mix of humor and angst, the Sam/Amelia storyline made huge progress, and Castiel was able to clear the air…

    Read More The WFB Admins’ Top 15 “Supernatural” Episodes List: #9Continue

  • Top Ten Articles

    The WFB Admins’ Top 15 “Supernatural” Episodes List: #2

    Bysweetondean January 16, 2013July 24, 2023

    Alice’s #2 “Swan Song”   Why?:  Why don’t I start with something funny?  Just yesterday, sweetondean emailed Ardeospina and I that she’s amazed that none of our lists have had an identical pick so far.  Only two more to go.  She jinxed it!  What can I say about “Swan Song?”  After watching this, I was…

    Read More The WFB Admins’ Top 15 “Supernatural” Episodes List: #2Continue

  • Top 10 Uses of Music in “Supernatural”: Season 1
    Top Ten Articles

    Top 10 Uses of Music in “Supernatural”: Season 1

    ByArdeospina September 20, 2012

    5. Song: “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” Artist: Iron Butterfly Episode: “Skin” Another awesome use of music from “Skin.”  That episode nailed it!  This song makes an already creepy opening even better. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBJKR8p5V-Y 4. Song: “Laugh, I Nearly Died” Artist: The Rolling Stones Episode: “Bloody Mary” The only use of The Stones to date, and it’s an unconventional choice. …

    Read More Top 10 Uses of Music in “Supernatural”: Season 1Continue

  • Top Ten Unsung Heroes – 6-10
    Top Ten Articles

    Top Ten Unsung Heroes – 6-10

    ByAlice Jester August 20, 2009January 25, 2025

    Let’s face it.  The heroes in this show are accidental and often reluctant heroes. The people on this list support that.    #10 – Corbett    Yes, that poor dead gay intern won us over, pulling himself together over the trauma of his own death long enough to take out the twisted birthday party ghost that threatened to…

    Read More Top Ten Unsung Heroes – 6-10Continue

  • Top Ten Articles

    Top Ten Supernatural Antagonists – #2

    ByAlice Jester June 28, 2009January 2, 2024

    #2 – Sam Winchester   I hear you all.  “You better have a damned good explanation for this one, Alice!”  I do, and I think I’ve got a point.  We’ll see how much of a good one.  Sam’s greatest enemy is himself.  All it takes is a viewing of “When The Levee Breaks” and “Lucifer…

    Read More Top Ten Supernatural Antagonists – #2Continue

  • Top Ten Articles

    Supernatural’s Top Ten Musical Moments

    ByKaren April 6, 2020December 30, 2024

    Hi, everyone. I hope everyone is keeping well and being safe during this uncertain and stressful time. With recently being ‘temporarily’ laid off,  I have found myself with more time than I have had in a very long time. Now with our show on an unexpected hiatus, I started to reflect on things that I…

    Read More Supernatural’s Top Ten Musical MomentsContinue

Leave a Reply

  • Disqus Comments
  • Old WFB Comments
thewinchesterfamilybusiness

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Essentials

  • The WFB Site Rules
  • Latest Comments
  • The WFB on Twitter
  • The WFB on Facebook
  • The WFB on Instagram
  • The WFB YouTube Channel

Fun Stuff

  • WFB Games
  • Photo Galleries
  • Slideshows
  • The Lighter Side

Archives

  • SPN Weekly/Whenever World News
  • Interviews
  • WFB Convention Reports
  • SPN Ratings for All Seasons

Recommended Sites

  • Twilight Fan Phenomena
  • Supernatural Fan Wiki
  • Supernatural Wiki
  • Fangasm
  • Hunting Muses
  • Chronicles of the Necromancer
  • Con-Tinual: The Con That Never Ends
  • In Defense of Fandom – Sadie’s Podcast
  • TV Fanatic

© 2025 The Winchester Family Business

 

Website Designed and Built By

  jesterznet-newlogo-wide
  • Home
  • Featured Articles
    • Featured Articles
    • WFB Archives
  • News
    • Supernatural Whenever World News
  • Supernatural
    • Supernatural Episode Guides
    • SPN Ratings for All Episodes
  • Extended Family
    • Walker
    • The Winchesters
    • Walker: Independence
    • The Boys
    • Big Sky
  • Fandom
    • Latest Comments
    • WFB Games
    • Photo Galleries
    • CBOX Chat Room
    • Old Discussion Page
  • About Us
    • WFB Writers
    • Contact Us
Search